Makeup artist tips and tricks

When applying mascara, wiggle the wand at the base of the lashes. You can continue to zig-zag the wand throughout the application to cut down on clumps.

Put a little loose powder beneath your eyes before applying mascara, because smudges sometimes occur when mascara comes into contact with concealers or eye creams. You can always sweep the powder away once your eye look is finished.

Use an eyelash curler to really open up your eyes. Press the lash curler a couple of times at the base of the lash line, again at mid-lash and then near the tip to get a natural-looking curl.

Black mascara is dramatic but if you’re fair, you may be better using a brownish/black shade, particularly for daytime. And don’t be afraid to try a little colour. Clarins Wonder Length comes in a gorgeous violet that looks great on brown or green eyes. And Lancôme Virtuôse comes in a subtle dark blue or prune (dark purple) shade.

Apply two or three thin coats of mascara rather than one thick coat.

one makeup artist I know swears by using a thickening mascara at the base of the lashes and then a lengthening one at the tips for maximum effect. Another reckons bending the wand so that the brush is at a 90-degree angle makes for the easiest application ever.

Don’t forget to remove your mascara at the end of the night. When I was testing the products on these pages, I used Johnson’s 3-in-1 Cleansing Wipes for dry skin ($9.95), a winner in our beauty awards this year. These wipes were gentle and effective, removing every single formulation without any scrubbing, I didn’t experience any stinging and my eye area didn’t feel at all dry afterwards.